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DT Luke Fickell (HC Wisconsin Badgers)

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NFBuck;2065622; said:
I didn't intend it to look that way. What I mean is, I think if Luke sticks it out under Urban for a year or two, he'll have better opportunities presented to him than Pitt. Like I said, nobody has really used that job as a springboard for anything in a long, long time. Pitt football is a dead end job. They haven't been relevent on the national scene in 30 years, don't have their own stadium, will always play second fiddle to the stillers, and are moving to a (slightly) tougher conference. He'd be better off taking on a MAC program, turning them around and moving on. At least the MAC has a history of doing that. Pitt...not so much.


Exactly, Luke. Exactly. Pitt isn't "right".
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I disagree here.

1) A head coaching position at a BCS school is much better than one at a MAC school.

2) Lots of colleges play "second fiddle" to a professional team. That doesn't mean the fans won't support he college team too.

3) There is nothing wrong with Heinz Field, it is a first class facility. It has to be much better than any MAC school stadium.

4) The couple hundred mile area (i.e. Pennsylvania & Ohio) around Pittsburg probably has as many D1 caliber recruits as any area in the country. He should be able to "reel in" his share.

5) The ACC is a basketball conference. Considering the class of the conference in football is Virginia Tech and Clemson, Pitt (potentially) can be as good as any team in the conference.

6) Yes, Pitt has been down for a couple decades now; which means bringing them to "national prominence again" would really be noticeable. i.e. it may almost guarantee him getting the Ohio State job the next time it becomes available and/or he could probably name his next job (if he would ever want to leave). Pitt doesn't have to be a "dead end job".

7) Also, he has to think what the added salary would do for his family.

Yeah, I hope he stays too; however, I do feel it would be a good career move for him to be a head coach again. If he is offered the job and decides to accept; I'll he happy for him and wish him all "the success in the world" (except if he ever plays Ohio State).

:osu:
 
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Is LF really ready to run the whole program..I am sure he can coach and recruit..but there is a lot more to it. A year watching Meyer restablish our program and build an identity would be invaluable to LF. If he takes this Pitt job now I think it might get the best of him.
 
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ScriptOhio;2065638; said:
I disagree here.

1) A head coaching position at a BCS school is much better than one at a MAC school.

2) Lots of colleges play "second fiddle" to a professional team. That doesn't mean the fans won't support he college team too.

3) There is nothing wrong with Heinz Field, it is a first class facility. It has to be much better than any MAC school stadium.

4) The couple hundred mile area (i.e. Pennsylvania & Ohio) around Pittsburg probably has as many D1 caliber recruits as any area in the country. He should be able to "reel in" his share.

5) The ACC is a basketball conference. Considering the class of the conference in football is Virginia Tech and Clemson, Pitt (potentially) can be as good as any team in the conference.

6) Yes, Pitt has been down for a couple decades now; which means bringing them to "national prominence again" would really be noticeable. i.e. it may almost guarantee him getting the Ohio State job the next time it becomes available and/or he could probably name his next job (if he would ever want to leave). Pitt doesn't have to be a "dead end job".

7) Also, he has to think what the added salary would do for his family.

Yeah, I hope he stays too; however, I do feel it would be a good career move for him to be a head coach again. If he is offered the job and decides to accept; I'll he happy for him and wish him all "the success in the world" (except if he ever plays Ohio State).

:osu:
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Eh, it's a matter of opinion. But many coaches have used MAC jobs as springboards to much bigger things, including the guy we're all cooing over right now. Pitt has done nothing to further careers. It's stalled and ended them. I guess Graham didn't necessarily "stall", but I have a hard time seeing his move as anything more than lateral. It's a middling BCS job that has been stuck in neutral since Dan Marino left. Further, while Heinz field is indeed a fine stadium, have you watched a Pitt game on TV? Not exactly what I'd call "atmosphere". The salary is the only benefit I see. Just my my IMO.
 
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Onebuckfan;2065639; said:
Is LF really ready to run the whole program..I am sure he can coach and recruit..but there is a lot more to it. A year watching Meyer restablish our program and build an identity would be invaluable to LF. If he takes this Pitt job now I think it might get the best of him.
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This is another concern. Not to knock him, but Fick showed a lot of room (need) for growth as a HC this season. Pitt isn't much of a job (my IMO), but the pressure is sure as heck gonna be higher there than a MAC-type job. For me, again, my IMO, his career would benefit more from taking a MAC-type job, or apprenticing under Urban for another year or two than going to Pitt. I just don't see how that helps him longterm...especially given that programs 30+ year track record, and the unreasonable expectations of their fanbase/administration.
 
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MaxBuck;2065670; said:
Excuse me while I clear my mind. Many posters here were, in August, suggesting we sign Luke Fickell to a long-term contract to coach the Buckeyes. Yet he is not now competent to coach Pitt?

:huh:
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If you're referring to me, you incorrectly cast me under that umbrella. And, holy cow! Opinions actually change after returns are tallied!
 
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MaxBuck;2065670; said:
Excuse me while I clear my mind. Many posters here were, in August, suggesting we sign Luke Fickell to a long-term contract to coach the Buckeyes. Yet he is not now competent to coach Pitt?

:huh:
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Well, August was before the debacle of a season occurred, so its very understandable that someone who maybe thought he was the guy in August does not believe that now.

If Fick has a chance to be a HC at a D1 BCS college it would be hard to turn that down. IMO, which means nothing, he would be better suited to stick it out with UM for a couple of years and then get a big time HC gig, but I wouldn't disagree with his decision in the least if he took the job.
 
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Ohio State football: Fickell reportedly a candidate for Pittsburgh job
By Bill Rabinowitz
The Columbus Dispatch Friday December 16, 2011

Luke Fickell might not remain on new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's staff, after all.

Several media outlets reported today that Fickell is a candidate for the University of Pittsburgh head coaching job, which became open this week when Todd Graham left suddenly to take the Arizona State job.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Fickell has interviewed for the Pittsburgh job. But Fickell told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tonight that he has not had an interview and that one had not been scheduled.

The Tribune-Review spoke to Fickell in Hershey, Pa., where he, Meyer and OSU linebackers coach Mike Vrabel watched elite prospect Noah Spence play in his high-school state championship game.

?Hey, it's a dream of mine (to become a head coach),? the Tribune-Review quoted Fickell as saying. ?Someday, when it's right.?

Of Pittsburgh's program, Fickell said: ?They have great history. They have great tradition. They have a great high-school state for football.?

Western Pennsylvania is part of Fickell's recruiting territory at Ohio State.

Florida International head coach Mario Cristobal and Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst are thought to be the leading candidates along with Fickell

Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads might have been Pittsburgh's top target, but he signed a 10-year contract with the Cyclones today. Coincidentally, Meyer hired Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Herman away from Rhoads this week.

Fickell, a Columbus native and former Buckeyes player, did not respond to requests from The Dispatch for comment.

cont...
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http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/...16-fickell-reportedly-interviews-at-pitt.html
 
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my 2 cents

1. Fickell isnt ready to be a head coach yet...staying a year or 2 under meyer will be the best thing for him...new offensive system, shows LF urbans way to recruit, takes the pressure off of him for a year or 2 after the crap that went on this season, gets to stay at his home school and state

2. He doesnt have to take the first HC job that comes up regardless of how "good" it sounds...the pitt job is actually a pretty decent start up job for someone to be HC without the interm tag...great recruiting area and you play in a pretty easy confrence to have some immediate success...but staying under meyer and having great success after a few years will have alot of bigger programs knocking on the door for him...if the penn st situation happened maybe 2 to 3 years in the future from now, i could see them asking LF to interview for the job...hell he may be asked now for all i know...my point is i can see LF getting asked for a better head coaching gig then PITT sometime in the future if he stays at home

3. i dont want LF to leave but i cant blame him if he does...ive heard his wife really doesnt want to leave columbus but for a first job, pitt isnt that far from columbus so it wouldnt be all that bad

4. good luck to luke and whatever he decides to do...he will always be a buckeye no matter what
 
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Onebuckfan;2065639; said:
Is LF really ready to run the whole program..I am sure he can coach and recruit..but there is a lot more to it. A year watching Meyer restablish our program and build an identity would be invaluable to LF. If he takes this Pitt job now I think it might get the best of him.
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I think it would be good for Fickell to stay at OSU and watch a coach other than Tressel run the program.
 
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Tough call for Fickell. IMO to be the HC at OSU he needs to be HC somewhere else first. Ideally that might come after a year or two under Meyer, but it has to come.

How good of a program Pitt has is not an issue any more than it was an issue with Iowa St and our new OC or Brady Hoke and Michigan. What is important is to be the man in charge. To recruit and to hire and fire and to manage the program from one season to the next. Pitt is a solid opportunity.

I wish Fickell well whatever decision is made albeit with some concern regarding how it will impact our immediate recruiting. While it is the Urban Meyer name that has generated interest, Fickell has been front and center with these kids. It is a whirlwind process and changing names and faces will be of no help. But that will be at worst a bump in the road.
 
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